There was once in the city of Shiraz a mighty King called Sayf al-A'azam Shah, who had grown old, without being blessed with a son. So he summoned the physicists and physicians and said to them, "I am now in years and you know my case and the state of the kingdom and its ordinance; and I fear for my subjects after me; for that up to this present I have not been vouchsafed a son." Thereupon they replied, "We will compound you a some what of drugs in which shall be efficacy, if it please Almighty Allah!" So they mixed him drugs, which he used and knew his wife carnally, and she conceived by leave of the Most High Lord, who says to a thing, "Be," and it becomes. When her months were accomplished, she gave birth to a male child like the moon, whom his father named Ardashir, and he grew up and throve and applied himself to the study of learning and letters, till he attained the age of fifteen. Now there was in al-Irak a King called Abd al-Kádir who had a daughter, by name Hayát al-Nufús, and she was like the rising full moon; but she had an hatred for men and the folk very hardly dared name mankind in her presence. The Kings of the Chosroes had sought her in marriage of her sire; but, when he spoke with her of it, she said,

"Never will I do this; and if you force me thereto, I will slay myself." Now Prince Ardashir heard of her fame and fell in love with her and told his father who, seeing his case, took pity on him and promised him day by day that he should marry her. So he despatched his Wazir to demand her in wedlock, but King Abd al-Kadir refused, and when the Minister returned to King Sayf al-A'azam and acquainted him with what had befallen his mission and the failure of it, he was wroth with exceeding wrath and cried, "Shall the like of me send to one of the Kings on a requisition and he accomplish it not?" Then he bade a herald make proclamation to his troops, bidding them bring out the tents and equip them for war with all diligence, though they should borrow money for the necessary expenses; and he said, "I will on no wise turn back, till I have laid waste King Abd al-Kadir's dominions and slain his men and plundered his treasures and blotted out his traces!" When the report of this reached Ardashir he rose from his carpet bed, and going in to his father, kissed ground between his hands and said, "O mighty King, trouble not yourself with anything of this thing" —

When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenties night

Asked the King, "And what then think you to do, O my son?" and the Prince

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 211 answered, "I will don a merchant's habit and cast about how I may win to the Princess and compass my desire of her." Sayf said,al-A'azam, "Are you determined upon this?"; and the Prince said, "Yes, O my sire;" whereupon the King called to his Wazir, and said to him, "Do you journey with my son, the core of my heart, and help him to win his will and watch over him and guide him with your sound judgment, for you stand to him even in my stead." "I hear and obey," answered the Minister; and the King gave his son three hundred thousand dinars in gold and great store of jewels and precious stones and goldsmiths' ware and stuffs and other things of price. Then Prince Ardashir went in to his mother and kissed her hands and he asked blessing. She blessed him and, directly opening her treasures, brought out to him necklaces and trinkets and apparel and all manner of other costly objects hoarded up from the time of the bygone Kings, whose price might not be evened with coin. Moreover, he took with him of his Mamelukes and negro slaves and cattle all that he needed for the road and clad himself and the Wazir and their company in traders' gear. Then he farewelled his parents and kinsfolk and friends; and, setting out, fared on over wolds and wastes all hours of the day and watches of the night; and whenas the way was longsome upon him he improvised these couplets,

"My longing bred of love with my unease for ever grows; Nor against all the wrongs of time one succourer arose: When Pleiads and the Fishes show in sky the rise I watch, As worship per within whose breast a pious burning glows: For Star o' Morn I speer until at last when it is seen, I'm madded with my passion and my fancy's woes and throes: I swear by you that never from your love have I been loosed; nothing am I save a watcher who of slumber nothing knows! Though hard appear my hope to win, though languor aye increase, And after you my patience fails and not a helper shows; Yet will I wait till Allah shall be pleased to join our loves I'll mortify the jealous and I'll mock me of my foes"

When he ended his verse he swooned away and the Wazir sprinkled rose water on him, till the Prince came to himself, when the Minister said to him, "O King's son, possess your soul in patience; for the consequence of patience is consolation, and behold, you are on the way to whatever you wish." And he did not stop to bespeak him fair and comfort him till his trouble subsided;

and they continued their journey with all diligence. Presently, the Prince again became impatient of the length of the way and bethought him of his beloved and recited these couplets,

"Longsome is absence, restlessness increases and despite; And burn my vitals in the blaze my love and longings light: Grows my hair gray from pains and pangs which I am doomed bear For pine, while tear floods stream from eyes and sore offend my sight: I swear, O Hope of me, O End of every wish and will, By Him who made mankind and every branch with leafage dressed, A passion load for you, O my Desire, I must endure, And boast I that to bear such load no lover has the might. Question the Night of me and Night your soul shall satisfy My eyelids never close in sleep throughout the livelong night."

Then he wept with sore weeping and 'plained of that he suffered for stress of lovelonging; but the Wazir comforted him and spoke him fair, promising him the winning of his wish; after which they fared on again for a few days, when they drew near to the White City, the capital of King Abd al-Kadir, soon after sunrise. Then said the Minister to the Prince, "Rejoice, O King's son, in all good; for see, that is the White City, that which you seek." at which the Prince rejoiced with exceeding joy and recited these couplets,

"My friends, I yearn in heart distraught for him; Longing abides and with sore pains I brim: I mourn like childless mother, nor can find One to console me when the light grows dim; Yet when the breezes blow from off your land, I feel their freshness shed on heart and limb; And rail my eyes like water laden clouds, While in a tear sea shed by heart I swim."

Now when they entered the White City they asked for the Merchants' Khan, a place of moneyed men; and when shown the hostelry they hired three magazines and on receiving the keys they laid up within it all their goods and gear. They abode in the Khan till they were rested, when the Wazir applied himself to devise a device for the Prince, —

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 213

When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty first night

She pursued, the Prince and the Minister alighted at the Khan and lodged their goods in the ground floor magazines and there settled their servants. Then they tarried awhile till they had rested, when the Wazir arose and applied himself to devise a device for the Prince, and said to him, "I have bethought me of somewhat in which, I think, will be success for you, so it please Almighty Allah." Ardashir said, "O you Wazir of good counsel, do what comes to your mind, and may the Lord direct your advice aright!" The Minister said, "I purpose to hire you a shop in the market street of the stuff sellers and set you within it; for that all, great and small, have recourse to the bazar and, meseems, when the folk see you with their own eyes sitting in the shop their hearts will incline to you and you will thus be enabled to attain your desire, for you are fair of favour and souls incline to you and sight rejoics in you." The other replied, "Do what seems good to you." So the Wazir directly began to robe the Prince and himself in their richest raiment and, putting a purse of a thousand dinars in his breast pocket, went forth and walked about the city, whilst all who looked upon them marvelled at the beauty of the King's son, saying, "Glory be to Him who created this youth 'of vile water'! Blessed be Allah excellentest of Creators!"

Great was the talk anent him and some said, "This is no mortal, 'this is nothing save a noble angel'"; and others, "Has Rizwán, the doorkeeper of the Eden garden, left the gate of Paradise unguarded, that this youth has come forth." The people followed them to the stuff market, where they entered and stood, till there came up to them an old man of dignified presence and venerable appearance, who saluted them, and they returned his salam. Then the Shaykh said to them, "O my lords, have you any need, that we may have the honour of accomplishing?"; and the Wazir asked him, "Who are you, O elder?" He answered, "I am the Overseer of the market." the Wazir said, "Know then, O Shaykh, that this youth is my son and I wish to hire him a shop in the bazar, that he may sit within it and learn to sell and buy and take and give, and come to ken merchants' ways and habits." "I hear and I obey," replied the Overseer and brought them without delay the key of a shop, which he caused the brokers sweep and clean. And they did his bidding. Then the Wazir sent for a high mattress, stuffed with ostrich down, and set it up in the shop, spreading upon it a small prayer carpet, and a cushion fringed with broidery of red gold. Moreover he brought pillows and transported there so much of the goods and stuffs that he had brought with him as filled the shop.

Next morning the young Prince came and opening the shop, seated himself on the divan, and stationed two Mamelukes, clad in the richest of raiment before him and two black slaves of the goodliest of the Abyssinians in the lower part of the shop. The Wazir enjoined him to keep his secret from the folk, so by that he might find aid in the winning of his wishes; then he left him and charging him to acquaint him with what befell him in the shop, day by day returned to the Khan. The Prince sat in the shop till night as he were the moon at its fullest, whilst the folk, hearing tell of his comeliness, flocked to the place, without errand, to gaze on his beauty and loveliness and symmetry and perfect grace and glorify the Almighty who created and shaped him, till none could pass through that bazar for the excessive crowding of the folk about him. The King's son turned right and left, abashed at the throng of people that stared at him, hoping to make acquaintance with some one about the court, of whom he might get news of the Princess; but he found no way to this, Why his breast was straitened. Meanwhile, the Wazir daily promised him the attainment of his desire and the case so continued for a time till, one morning, as the youth sat in the shop, there came up an old woman of respectable semblance and dignified presence clad in raiment of devotees and followed by two slave girls like moons. She stopped before the shop and, having considered the Prince awhile, cried, "Glory be to God who fashioned that face and perfected that figure!" Then she saluted him and he returned her salam and seated her by his side. She said, "from where comes you, O fair of favour?"; and He said, "From the parts of Hind, O my mother; and I have come to this city to see the world

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 215 and look about me." "Honour to you for a visitor! What goods and stuffs have you? Show me something handsome, fit for Kings." "If you wish for handsome stuffs, I will show them to you; for I have wares that beseem persons of every condition." "O my son, I want something costly of price and seemly to sight; brief, the best you have." "You must needs tell me for whom you seek it, that I may show you goods according to the rank of the requirer." "You speak truth, O my son," said she. "I want something for my mistress, Hayat al-Nufus, daughter of Abd al-Kadir, lord of this land and King of this country."

Now when Ardashir heard his mistress's name, his reason flew for joy and his heart fluttered and he gave no order to slave or servant, but, putting his hand behind him, pulled out a purse of an hundred dinars and offered it to the old woman, saying, 'This is for the washing of your clothes." Then he again put forth his hand and brought out of a wrapper a dress worth ten thousand dinars or more and said to her, "This is of that which I have brought to your country." When the old woman saw it, it pleased her and she asked, "What is the price of this dress, O perfect in qualities?" Answered he, "I will take no price for it!" Whereupon she thanked him and repeated her question; but he said, "By God, I will take no price for it. I make you a present of it, an the Princess will not accept it and 'tis a guest gift from me to you. praise be to God Glory be to God who has brought us together, so that, if one day I have a want, I shall find in you a helper to me in winning it!"

She marvelled at the goodliness of his speech and the excess of his generosity and the perfection of his courtesy and said to him, "What is your name, O my lord?" He replied, "My name is Ardashir;" and she cried, "By God this is a rare name! Therewith are Kings' sons named, and you are in a guise of the sons of the merchants!" He said, "Of the love my father bore me, he gave me this name, but a name signifies nothing;" and she in wonder said, "O my son, take the price of your goods." But he swore that he would not take anything. Then the old lady said to him, "O my dear one, Truth (I would have you know) is the greatest of all things and you had not dealt thus generously by me but for a special reason: so tell me your case and your secret thought; Perhaps you have some wish to whose winning I may help you." There upon he laid his hand in hers and, after exacting an oath of secrecy, told her the whole story of his passion for the Princess and his condition by reason of it. The old woman shook her head and said, "True; but O my son, the wise say, in the current adage, 'If you would be obeyed, abstain from ordering what may not be made'; and you, my son, your name is Merchant, and though you had the keys of the Hidden Hoards, yet would you be called nothing but Merchant. If you would rise to high rank, according to your station, then seek the hand of a Kazi's daughter or even an Emir's; but why, O my son, aspirest you to none but the daughter of the King of the age and the time, and she a clean maid, who knows nothing of the things of the world and has never in her life seen anything but her palace in which she dwells? Yet, for all her tender age, she is intelligent, shrewd, vivacious, penetrating, quick of wit, sharp of act and rare of counsel: her father has no other child and she is dearer to him than his life and soul. Every morning he comes to her and gives her good morrow, and all who dwell in the palace stand in dread of her. Think not, O my son, that any dare bespeak her with anything of these words; nor is there any way for me thereto. By God, O my son, my heart and vitals love you and were it in my power to give you access to her, I would assuredly do it; but I will tell you somewhat, in which Allah may Perhaps appoint the healing of your heart, and will risk life and goods for you, till I win your will for you."

He asked, "And what is that, O my mother?" and she answered, "Seek of me the daughter of a Wazir or an Emir, and I will grant your request; but it may not be that one should mount from earth to heaven at one bound." When the Prince heard this, he replied to her with courtesy and sense, "O my mother, you are a woman of wit and know how things go. Say me does a man, when his head irks him, bind up his hand?" She said, "No, By God, O my son"; and He said, "Even so my heart seeks none but her and nothing slays me but love of her. By God, I am a dead man, and I find not one to counsel me aright and succour me! In God's name, O my mother, take pity on my strangerhood and the streaming of my tears!" —

When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty second night

she replied, "By God, O my son, your words rend my heart, but my hand has no cunning wherewith to help you." He said, "I beseech you of your favour, carry her a letter and kiss her hands for me." So she had compassion on him and said, "Write what you will and I will bear it to her." When he heard his, he was ready to fly for joy and calling for ink case and paper, wrote these couplets,

O Hayát al-Nufús, be gen'rous, and incline To one who loving you for parting's doomed to pine. I was in all delight, in gladsomest of life, But now I am distraught with sufferings condign. To wakefulness I cling through longsomeness of night And with me sorrow chats through each sad eye of mine Pity a lover sad, a sore afflicted wretch, Whose eyelids ever ulcered are with tearful brine; And when the morning comes at last, the real morn, He finds him drunken and distraught with passion's wine."

Then he folded the scroll and kissing it, gave it to the old woman; after which he put his hand to a chest and took out a second purse containing an hundred dinars, which he presented to her, saying, "Divide this among the slave girls." She refused it and cried, "By God, O my son, I am not with you for anything of this!"; however, he thanked her and answered, "There is no help but that you accept of it." So she took it and kissing his hands, returned home; and going in to the Princess, cried, "O my lady, have brought you somewhat the like whereof is not with the people of our city, and it comes from a handsome young man, than whom there is not a goodlier on earth's face!" She asked, "O my nurse, and from where comes the youth?" and the old woman answered, "From the parts of Hind; and he has given me this dress of gold brocade, embroidered with pearls and gems and worth the Kingdom of Chosroes and Caesar." Thereupon she opened the dress and the whole palace was illuminated by its brightness, because of the beauty of its fashion and the wealth of unions and jewels wherewith it was broidered, and all who were present marvelled at it. The Princess examined it and, judging it to be worth no less than a whole year's revenue of her father's kingdom, said to the old woman, "O my nurse, comes this dress from him or from another?" she replied, "From him;" and Hayat al-Nufus asked, "Is this trader of our town or a stranger?"

The old woman answered, "He is a foreigner, O my lady, newly come here; and By God he has servants and slaves; and he is fair of face, symmetrical of form, well mannered, open handed and open hearted, never saw I a goodlier than he, save yourself." The King's daughter rejoined, "Indeed this is an extraordinary thing, that a dress like this, which money cannot buy, should be in the hands of a merchant! What price did he set on it, O my nurse?" She said, "By God, he would set no price on it, but gave me back the money you sent by me and swore that he would take nothing of it, saying, "Tis a gift from me to the King's daughter; for it beseems none but her; and if she will not accept it, I make you a present of it.'" Cried the Princess, "By God, this is indeed marvellous generosity and wondrous munificence! But I fear the issue of his affair, lest Perhaps he be brought to necessity. Why did you not ask him, O my nurse, if he had any desire, that we might fulfil it for him?" The nurse replied, "O my lady, I did ask him, and he said to me, 'I have indeed a desire'; but he would not tell me what it was. However, he gave me this letter and said, 'Carry it to the Princess.'"

So Hayat al-Nufus took the letter and opened and read it to the end; whereupon she was sore chafed; and lost temper and changing colour for anger she cried out to the old woman, saying, "Woe to you, O nurse! What is the name of this dog who durst write this language to a King's daughter? What affinity is there between me and this hound that he should address me thus? By Almighty Allah, Lord of the well Zemzem and

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 219 of the Hatim Wall, but that I fear the Omnipotent, the Most High, I would send and bind the cur's hands behind him and slit his nostrils, and shear off his nose and ears and after, by way of example, crucify him on the gate of the bazar in which is his booth!" When the old woman heard these words, she grew yellow; her side muscles quivered and her tongue clave to her mouth; but she heartened her heart and said, "Softly, O my lady! What is there in his letter to trouble you thus? Is it anything but a memorial containing his complaint to you of poverty or oppression, from which he hopes to be relieved by your favour?" she replied, "No, By God, O my nurse, 'tis nothing of this; but verses and shameful words! However, O my nurse, this dog must be in one of three cases: either he is Jinn mad, and has no wit, or he seeks his own slaughter, or else he is assisted to his wish of me by some one of exceeding puissance and a mighty Sultan. Or has he heard that I am one of the baggages of the city, who lie a night or two with whoever seeks them, that he writes me immodest verses to debauch my reason by talking of such matters?"

Rejoined the old woman. "By God, O my lady, you sayst truth! But reck not you of that ignorant hound, for you are seated in your lofty, firm builded and unapproachable palace, to which the very birds cannot soar neither the wind pass over it, and as for him, he is clean distraught. Why do you write him a letter and chide him angrily and spare him no manner of reproof, but threaten him with dreadful threats and menace him with death and say to him, 'from where have you knowledge of me, that you durst write me, O dog of a merchant, O you who trudgest far and wide all your days in wilds and wolds for the sake of gaining a dirham or a dinar? By God, except you awake from your sleep and put off yours intoxication, I will assuredly crucify you on the gate of the market street in which is your shop!' " the Princess said, "I fear lest he presume, if I write to him"; and the nurse said, "And pray what is he and what is his rank that he should presume to us? Indeed, we write him but to the intent that his presumption may be cut off and his fear magnified."

And she did not stop craftily to persuade her, till she called for ink case and paper and wrote him these couplets,

"O you who claim to be prey of love and ecstasy, You, who for passion spendest nights in grief and saddest grace: Say, do you (haughty one!) desire enjoyment of the moon? Did man ever sue the moon for grace whate'er his lunacy? I truly will counsel you with counsel the best to hear: Cut short this course before come you near sore risk, nay death, to dree! If you to this request return, surely on you shall fall Sore punishment for vile offence a grievous penalty. Be reasonable then, be wise, hark back unto your wits; Behold, in very truth I speak with best advice to you: By Him who did all things that be create from nothingness Who dressed the face of heaven with stars in brightest radiancy: If in the like of this your speech you dare to sin again! I'll surely have you crucified upon a trunk of tree."

Then she rolled up the letter and gave it to the old woman who took it and, repairing to Ardashir's shop, delivered it to him, —

When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty third night

He took the letter joyfully but, when he had read it and understood its drift, he wept sore, at which the old woman's heart ached and she cried, "O my son, Allah never cause yours eyes to weep nor your heart to mourn! What can be more gracious than that she should answer your letter when you have done what you did?" He replied, "O my mother what shall I do for a subtle device? Behold, she writes to me, threatening me with death and crucifixion and forbidding me from writing to her; and I, By God, see my death to be better than my life; but I beg you of your grace to carry her another letter from me." She said, "Write and I warrant I'll bring you

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 221 an answer. By God, I will assuredly venture my life to win for you your wish, though I die to pleasure you!" He thanked her and kissing her hands, wrote these verses,

"Do you threaten me wi' death for my loving you so well? When Death to me were rest and all dying is by Fate? And man's death is but a boon, when so longsome to him grows His life and rejected he lives in lonest state: Then visit you a lover who has not a soul to aid; For on pious works of men Heaven's blessing shall await. But an you be resolved on this deed then up and on; I'm in bonds to you, a bondsman confined within your gate: What path have I whose patience without you is no more? How is this, when a lover's heart in stress of love is strait? O my lady show me ruth, who by passion am misused For all who love the noble stand for evermore excused."

He then folded the scroll and gave it to the old woman, together with two purses of two hundred dinars, which she would have refused, but he conjured her by oath to accept of them. So she took them both and said, "Needs must I bring you to your desire, despite the noses of your foes." Then she repaired to the palace and gave the letter to Hayat al-Nufus who said, "What is this, O my nurse? Here are we in a correspondence and you coming and going! Indeed, I fear lest the matter get wind and we be disgraced." Rejoined the old woman, "How so, O my lady? Who dare speak such word?" So she took the letter and after reading and understanding it she smote hand on hand, saying, "truly, this is a calamity which is fallen upon us, and I know not from where this young man came to us!" The old woman said, "O my lady, in God's name, write him another letter; but be rough with him this time and say to him, 'If you write me another word after this, I will have your head struck off.' " the Princess said, "O my nurse, I am assured that the matter will not end on such wise; 'twere better to break off this exchange of letters; and, except the puppy take warning by my previous threats, I will strike off his head." The old woman said, "Then write him a letter and give him to know this condition." So Hayat al-Nufus called for pen case and paper and wrote these couplets,

"Ho, you heedless of Time and his sore despight! Ho, you heart whom hopes of my favours excite!

Think O pride full! would'st win for yourself the skies? Would'st attain to the moon shining clear and bright? I will burn you with fire that shall never be quenched, Or will slay you with scimitar's sharpest bite! Leave it, friend, and 'scape the tormenting pains, Such as turn hair partings from black to white. Take my warning and fly from the road of love; Draw you back from a course nor seemly nor right!"

Then she folded the scroll and gave it to the old woman, who was puzzled and perplexed by the matter. She carried it to Ardashir, and the Prince read the letter and bowed his head to the earth,. making as if he wrote with his finger and speaking not a word. the old woman said, "How is it I see you silent stay and not say your say?"; and He said, "O my mother, what shall I say, seeing that she does but threaten me and redoubls in hard heartedness and aversion?" Rejoined the nurse, "Write her a letter of what you will: I will protect you; nor let your heart be cast down, for needs must I bring you twain together." He thanked her for her kindness and kissing her hand, wrote these couplets,

"A heart, By God! never soft to lover people, Who sighs for union only with his friends, his sprite! Who with tear ulcered eyelids evermore must bide, When falls upon earth first darkness of the night: Be just, be gen'rous, lend your ruth and deign give alms To love molested lover, parted, forced to flight! He spends the length of longsome night without a doze; Fire brent and drent in tear flood flowing infinite: Ah; cut not off the longing of my fondest heart Now disappointed, wasted, flutt'ring for its blight."

Then he folded the scroll and gave it to the old woman, together with three hundred dinars, saying, 'This is for the washing of your hands." She thanked him and kissed his hands, after which she returned to the palace and gave the letter to the Princess, who took it and read it and throwing it from her fingers, sprang to her feet. Then she walked, shod as she was with pattens of gold, set with pearls and jewels, till she came to her sire's palace, whilst the vein of anger started out between her eyes, and none dared ask her

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 223 of her case. When she reached the palace, she enquired for the King, and the slave girls and concubines replied to her, "O my lady, he is gone forth a hunting and sporting." So she returned, as she were a rending lioness, and bespake none for the space of three hours, when her brow cleared and her wrath cooled. As soon as the old woman saw that her irk and anger were past, she went up to her and, kissing ground between her hands, he asked, "O my lady, where went those noble steps?" The Princess answered, "To the palace of the King my sire." "And could no one do yours errand?" enquired the nurse. Replied the Princess, "No, for I went to acquaint him of that which has befallen me with that cur of a merchant, so he might lay hands on him and on all the merchants of his bazar and crucify them over their shops nor suffer a single foreign merchant to tarry in our town." the old woman said, "And was this yours only reason, O my lady, for going to your sire?"; and Hayat Al-Nufus said, "Yes, but I found him absent a hunting and sporting and now I await his return." Cried the old nurse, "I take refuge with Allah, the All hearing, the All knowing! Praised be He! O my lady, you are the most sensible of women and how could you think of telling the King these fond words, which it behoves none to publish?" Asked the Princess, "And why so?" and the nurse answered, "Suppose you had found the King in his palace and told him all this tale and he had sent after the merchants and commanded to hang them over their shops, the folk would have seen them hanging and asked the reason and it would have been answered them, They sought to seduce the King's daughter.'" —

When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty fourth night

The Princess pondered her words, and seeing them to be altogether profitable and right said, "You speaks truth, O my nurse; but anger had blinded my judgment." the old woman said, "Your resolve to tell no one is pleasing to the Almighty; but something remains to be done: we must not let the shamelessness of that vile dog of a merchant pass without notice. Write him a letter and say to him, 'O vilest of traders, but that I found the King my father absent, I had At once commanded to hang you and all your neighbours. But you will gain nothing by this; for I swear to you, By God the Most High, that If you return to the like of this talk, I will blot out the trace of you from the face of earth!' And deal you roughly with him in words, so will you discourage him in this attempt and arouse him from his heedlessness." "And will these words cause him to abstain from his offending?" asked the Princess; and the old woman answered, "How should he not abstain? Besides, I will talk with him and tell him what has passed." So the Princess called for ink case and paper and wrote these couplets,

"To win our favours still your hopes are bent; And still to win your will art confident! nothing save his pride full aim shall slay a man; And he by us shall die of his intent You are no lord of might, no chief of men, Nabob or Prince or Soldan Heaven sent And were this deed of one who is our peer, He had returned with hair for fear white sprent: Yet will I deign once more excuse your sin So from this time you prove you penitent."

Then she gave the missive to the old woman, saying, "O my nurse, do you admonish this puppy lest I be forced to cut off his head and sin on his account." Replied the old woman, "By God, O my lady, I will not leave him a side to turn on!" Then she returned to the youth and, when salams had been exchanged, she gave him the letter. He read it and shook his head, saying, "truly, we are Allah's and unto him shall we return!" Adding,

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 225

"O my mother, what shall I do? My fortitude fails me and my patience palls upon me!" She replied, "O my son, be long suffering: perhaps, after this Allah shall bring something to pass. Write that which is in your mind and I will fetch you an answer, and be of good cheer and keep yours eyes cool and clear; for needs must I bring about union between you and her, God willing!" He blessed her and wrote to the Princess a note containing these couplets,

"Since none will lend my love a helping hand, And I by passion's bale in death low lain, I bear a flaming fire within my heart By day and night nor place of rest attain, How cease to hope in you, my wishes' term? Or with my longings to be glad and glad? The Lord of highmost Heaven to grant my prayer Pray I whom love of lady fair has slain And as I'm clean o'erthrown by love and fear, To grant me speedy union deign, oh deign!"

Then he folded the scroll and gave it to the old woman, bringing out at the same time a purse of four hundred dinars. She took the whole and returning to the palace sought the Princess to whom she gave the letter; but the King's daughter refused to take it and cried, "What is this?" Replied the old woman, "O my lady, this is only the answer to the letter you sent to that merchant dog." Hayat al-Nufus said, "Did you forbid him as I told you?"; and She said, "Yes, and this is his reply." So the Princess took the letter and read it to the end; then she turned to the old woman and exclaimed, "Where is the result of your promise?" "O my lady, says he not in his letter that he repents and will not again offend, excusing himself for the past?" "Not so, By God!: on the contrary, he increases." "O my lady, write him a letter and you will presently see what I will do with him." "There needs nor letter nor answer." "I must have a letter that I may rebuke him roughly and cut off his hopes." "You can do that without a letter." "I cannot do it without the letter." So Hayat al-Nufus called for pen case and paper and wrote these verses,

"Long have I chid you but my chiding hinders you not How often would my verse with writ o' hand ensnare you, ah! Then keep your passion hidden deep and ever unrevealed, And if you dare gainsay me Earth shall no more bear you, ah!

And if, despite my warning, you do to such words return, Death's Messenger shall go his rounds and dead declare you, ah! Soon shall the wold's fierce chilling blast o'erblow that corse o' yours, And birds o' the wild with ravening bills and beaks shall tear you, ah! Return to righteous course; perchance that same will profit you, If bent on wilful aims and lewd I glad forswear you, ah!"

When she had made an end of her writing this, she cast the writ from her hand in wrath, and the old woman picked it up and went with it to Ardashir. When he read it to the last he knew that she had not softened to him, but only redoubled in rage against him, and that he would never win to meet her, so he bethought himself to write her an answer invoking Allah's help against her. There upon he indited these couplets,

"O Lord, by the Five Shaykhs, I pray deliver me From love, which gars me bear such grief and misery. You know what I bear for passion's fiery flame; What stress of sickness for that merciless maid I dree. She has no pity on the pangs to me decreed; How long on weakly people shall last her tyranny? I am distraught for her with passing agonies And find no friend, O folk! to hear my plaint and plea. How long, when Night has drooped her pinions over the world, Shall I lament in public as in privacy? For love of you I cannot find forgetfulness; And how forget when Patience takes wings to flee? O you wild parting bird say is she safe and sure From shift and change of time and the world's cruelty?"

Then he folded the scroll and gave it to the old woman, adding a purse of five hundred dinars; and she took it and carried it to the Princess, who read it to the end and learned its purport. Then, casting it from her hand, she cried, "Tell me O wicked old woman, the cause of all that has befallen me from you and from your cunning and yours advocacy of him,

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 227 so that you have made me write letter after letter and you ceasest not to carry messages, going and coming between us twain, till you have brought about a correspondence and a connection. You leave not to say, 'I will ensure you against his mischief and cut off from you his speech'; but you speak not thus save only to the intent that I may continue to write you letters and you to fetch and carry between us, evening and morning, till you ruin my repute. Woe to you! Ho, eunuchs, seize her!" Then Hayat al-Nufus commanded them to beat her, and they lashed her till her whole body flowed with blood and she fainted away, whereupon the King's daughter caused her slave women to drag her forth by the feet and cast her without the palace and bade one of them stand by her head till she recovered, and say to her, "The Princess has sworn an oath that you will never return to and re enter this palace; and she has commanded to slay you without mercy If you dare return here." So, when she came to herself, the damsel told her what the King's daughter said and she answered, "I hear and I obey."

Presently, the slave girls fetched a basket and a porter whom they caused carry her to her own house; and they sent after her a physician, bidding him tend her assiduously till she recovered. He did what he was told to do and as soon as she was whole she mounted and rode to the shop of Ardashir who was concerned with sore concern for her absence and was longing for news of her. As soon as he saw her, he sprang up and coming to meet her, saluted her; then he noticed that she was weak and ailing; so he questioned her of her case and she told him all that had befallen her from her nursling. When he heard this, he found it grievous and smote hand upon hand, saying, "By God, O my mother, this that has happened you straitens my heart! But, what, O my mother, is the reason of the Princess's hatred to men?" Replied the old woman, "You must know O my son, that she has a beautiful garden, than which there is nothing good lier on earth's face and it chanced that she lay there one night. In the joyance of sleep, she dreamt a dream and 'twas this, that she went down into the garden, where she saw a fowler set up his net and strew corn thereabout, after which he withdrew and sat down afar off to await what game should fall into it. before an hour had passed the birds flocked to pick up the corn and a male pigeon fell into the net and struggled in it, at which all the others took fright and fled from him. His mate was amongst them, but she returned to him after the shortest delay; and, coming up to the net, sought out the mesh in which his foot was entangled and did not stop to peck at it with her bill, till she severed it and released her husband, with whom she flew away. All this while, the fowler sat dozing, and when he awoke, he looked at the net and found it spoilt.

So he mended it and strewed fresh grain, then withdrew to a distance and sat down to watch it again. The birds soon returned and began to pick up the corn, and among the rest the pair of pigeons. Presently, the she pigeon fell into the net and struggled to get free; whereupon all the other birds flew away, and her mate, whom she had saved, fled with the rest and did not return to her. Meantime, sleep had again overcome the fowler; and, when he awoke after long slumbering, he saw the she pigeon caught in the net; so he went up to her and freeing her feet from the meshes, cut her throat. The Princess startled by the dream awoke troubled, and said, 'Thus do men with women, for women have pity on men and throw away their lives for them, when they are in difficulties; but if the Lord decree against a woman and she fall into calamity, her mate deserts her and rescus her not, and wasted is that which she did with him of kindness. Allah curse her who puts her trust in men, for they ill requite the fair offices which women do them!'

And from that day she conceived an hatred to men." Said the King's son, "O my mother, does she never go out into the highways?"; and the old woman replied, "Nay, O my son, but I will tell you somewhat in which, Allah willing, there shall be profit for you. She has a garden which is of the goodliest pleasaunces of the age; and every year, at the time of the ripening of the fruits, she goes there and takes her pleasure within it only one day, nor lays the night but in her pavilion. She enters the garden by the private wicket of the palace which leads thereto; and you must know that it wants now but a month to the time of her going forth. So take my advice and hie you this very day to the keeper of that garden and make acquaintance with him and gain his good graces, for he admitts not one of Allah's creatures into the garth, because of its communication with the Princess's palace. I will let you know two days beforehand of the day fixed for her coming forth, when do you repair to the garden, as of your wont, and make shift to night there. When the King's daughter comes be you hidden

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 229 in some place or other"; —

When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty fifth night

She pursued, the old woman charged the King's son, saying, "I will let you know two days beforehand of the King's daughter going down to the garden: do you hide you in some place or other; and, when you espiest her, come forth and show yourself to her. When she sees you, she will fall in love with you; for you are fair to look upon and love covers all things. So keep yours eyes cool and clear and be of good cheer, O my son, for needs must I bring about union between you and her." The young Prince kissed her hand and thanked her and gave her three pieces of Alexandrian silk and three of satin of various colours, and with each piece, linen for shifts and stuff for trousers and a kerchief for the turband and fine white cotton cloth of Ba'albak for the linings, so as to make her six complete suits, each handsomer than its sister. Moreover, he gave her a purse containing six hundred gold pieces and said to her, "This is for the tailoring." She took the whole and said to him, "O my son, are you not pleased to acquaint me with yours abiding place and I also will show you the way to my lodging?" "Yes," answered he and sent a Mameluke with her to note her home and show her his own house.

Then he rose and bidding his slaves shut the shop, went back to the Wazir, to whom he related all that had passed between him and the old woman, from beginning to end. the Minister said, "O my son, should the Princess Hayat al-Nufus come out and look upon you and you find no favour with her what will you do?" Ardashir said, "There will be nothing left but to pass from words to deeds and risk my life with her, for I will snatch her up from amongst her attendants and set her behind me on a swift horse and make for the wildest of the wold. If I escape, I shall have won my wish and if I perish, I shall be at rest from this hateful life." Rejoined the Minister, "O my son, do you think to do this thing and live? How shall we make our escape, seeing that our country is far distant, and how will you deal thus with a King of the Kings of the Age, who has under his hand an hundred thousand horse, nor can we be sure but that he will despatch some of his troops to cut off our way? truly, there is no good in this project which no wise man would attempt."

Asked Ardashir, "And how then shall we do, O Wazir of good counsel? For unless I win her I am a dead man without a chance." The Minister answered, "Wait till to morrow when we will visit this garden and note its condition and see what betids us with the caretaker." So when the morning morrowed they took a thousand dinars in a poke and, repairing to the garden, found it compassed about with high walls and strong, rich in trees and rill full leas and goodly fruiteries. And indeed its flowers breathed perfume and its birds warbled amid the bloom as it were a garden of the gardens of Paradise. Within the door sat a Shaykh, an old man on a stone bench and they saluted him. When he saw them and noted the fairness of their favour, he rose to his feet after returning their salute, and said, "O my lords, per chance you have a wish which we may have the honour of satisfying?" Replied the Wazir, "Know, O elder, that we are strangers and the heat has overcome us: our lodging is afar off at the other end of the city; so we desire of your courtesy that you take these two dinars and buy us something of provisions and open us mean while the door of this flower garden and seat us in some shaded place, where there is cold water, that we may cool ourselves there, against your return with the provision, when we will eat, and you with us, and then, rested and refreshed, we shall go our ways."

So saying, he pulled out of his pouch a couple of dinars and put them into the keeper's hand. Now this care taker was a man aged three score and ten, who had never in all his life possessed so much money: so, when he saw the two dinars in his hand, he was like to fly for joy and rising immediately opened the garden gate to the Prince and the Wazir, and made them enter and sit down under a wide spreading, fruit laden, shade affording tree, saying, "Sit you here and go no further into the garden, for it has a privy door communicating with the palace of the Princess Hayat al-Nufus." They replied, "We will not stir hence." Whereupon he went out to buy what they had ordered and returned after awhile, with a porter bearing on his head a roasted lamb and bread.

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 231

They ate and drank together and talked awhile, till, presently, the Wazir, looking about him in all corners right and left, caught sight of a lofty pavilion at the farther end of the garden; but it was old and the plaster was peeled from its walls and its buttresses were broken down. So he said to the Gardener, "O Shaykh, is this garden yours own or do you hire it?"; and he replied, "I am neither owner nor tenant of the garden, only its caretaker." Asked the Minister, "And what is your wage?" whereto the old man answered, "A dinar a month," and the Wazir said, "truly they wrong you, especially If you have a family." the elder said, "By God, O my lord, I have eight children and I" The Wazir broke in, "There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great! You make me bear your grief my poor fellow! What would you say of him who should do you a good turn, on account of this family of yours?" Replied the old man, "O my lord, whatever good you do shall be garnered up for you with God the Most High!"

Thereupon said the Wazir, "O Shaykh, you know this garden of yours to be a goodly place; but the pavilion that is old and ruinous. Now I mean to repair it and stucco it anew and paint it handsomely, so that it will be the finest thing in the garth; and when the owner comes and finds the pavilion restored and beautified, he will not fail to question you concerning it. Then do you say, 'O my lord, at great expense I set it in repair, for that I saw it in ruins and none could make use of it nor could anyone sit within it.' If he says, 'from where had you the money for this?' reply, 'I spent of my own money upon the stucco, by that thinking to whiten my face with you and hoping for your bounties.' And needs must he recompense you fairly over the extent of yours expenses. To morrow I will bring builders and plasterers and painters to repair this pavilion and will give you what I promised you." Then he pulled out of his poke a purse of five hundred dinars and gave it to the Gardener, saying, "Take these gold pieces and expend them upon your family and let them pray for me and for this my son." Thereupon the Prince asked the Wazir, "What is the meaning of all this?" and he answered, "You will presently see the issue of it." —

When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty sixth night

the old man looked at the gold and his wits fled; so he fell down at the Wazir's feet, kissing them and invoking blessings on him and his son; and when they went away, he said to them, "I shall expect you to morrow: for By God Almighty, there must be no parting between us, night or day." Next morning the Wazir went to the Prince's shop and sent for the syndic of the builders; then he carried him and his men to the garth, where the Gardener rejoiced in their sight. He gave them the price of rations and what was needful to the work men for the restoration of the pavilion, and they repaired it and stucco'd it and decorated it. Then said the Minister to the painters, "Harkye, my masters, listen to my words and apprehend my wish and my aim. Know that I have a garden like this, where I was sleeping one night among the nights and saw in a dream a fowler set up nets and sprinkle corn thereabout. The birds flocked to pick up the grain, and a cock bird fell into the net, whereupon the others took fright and flew away, and amongst the rest his mate: but, after awhile, she returned alone and picked at the mesh that held his feet, till she set him free and they flew away together.

Now the fowler had fallen asleep and, when he awoke, he found the net empty; so he mended it and strewing fresh grain sat down afar off, waiting for game to fall into that snare. Presently, the birds assembled again to pick up the grains, and amongst the rest the two pigeons. By and by, the hen bird fell into the net, when all the other birds took fright at her and flew away, and her husband flew with them and did not return; whereupon the fowler came up and taking the quarry, cut her throat. Now, when her mate flew away with the others, a bird of raven seized him and slew him and ate his flesh and drank his blood, and I would have you pourtray me the presentment of this

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 233 my dream, even as I have related it to you, in the liveliest colours, laying the fair scene in this rare garden, with its walls and trees and rills, and dwell especially on the fowler and the falcon. If you do this I have set forth to you and the work please me, I will give you what shall gladden your hearts, over and above your wage." The painters, bearing these words, applied themselves with all diligence to do what he required of them and wrought it out in masterly style; and when they had made an end of the work, they showed it to the Wazir who, seeing his so called dream set forth as it was pleased and thanked them and rewarded them munificently. Presently, the Prince came in, according to his custom, and entered the pavilion, unweeting what the Wazir had done. So when he saw the portraiture of the fowler and the birds and the net and beheld the male pigeon in the clutches of the hawk, which had slain him and was drinking his blood and eating his flesh, his understanding was confounded and he returned to the Minister and said, "O Wazir of good counsel, I have seen this day a marvel which, were it graven with needle gravers on the eye corners would be a warner to whoever will be warned?"

Asked the Minister, "And what is that, O my lord?"; and the Prince answered, "Did I not tell you of the dream the Princess had and how it was the cause of her hatred for men?" "Yes," replied the Wazir; and Ardashir rejoined, "By God, O Minister, I have seen the whole dream pourtrayed in painting, as I had eyed it with my own eyes; but I found within it a circumstance which was hidden from the Princess, so that she saw it not, and 'tis upon this that I rely for the winning of my wish." the Wazir said, "And what is that, O my son?"; and the Prince said, "I saw that, when the male bird flew away; and, leaving his mate entangled in the net, failed return and save her, a falcon pounced on him and slaying him, ate his flesh and drank his blood. Would to Heaven the Princess had seen the whole of the dream and had beheld the cause of his failure to return and rescue her!" Replied the Wazir, "By God,this is indeed a rare thing and a wonderful!" And the King's son did not stop to marvel at the picture and lament that the King's daughter had not beheld the dream to its end, saying in himself, "Would she had seen it to the last or might see the whole over again, though but in the imbroglio of sleep!"

Then the Wazir to him said, "You said to me, 'Why will you repair the pavilion?'; and I replied, 'You will presently see the issue of it.' And behold, now its issue you see; for it was I did this deed and bade the painters pourtray the Princess's dream thus and paint the male bird in the pounces of the falcon which eats his flesh and drinks his blood; so that when she comes to the pavilion, she will behold her dream depicted and see how the cock pigeon was slain and excuse him and turn from her hate for men." When the Prince heard the Wazir's words, he kissed his hands and thanked him, saying, "truly, the like of you is fit to be Minister to the most mighty King, and, By God, If I win my wish and return to my sire, rejoicing, I will assuredly acquaint him with this, that he may redouble in honouring you and advance you in dignity and hearken to yours every word." So the Wazir kissed his hand and they both went to the old Gardener and said, "Look at that pavilion and see how fine it is!" And he replied, "This is all of your happy thought."

Then they said, "O elder, when the owners of the place question you concerning the restoration of the pavilion, say you, ' 'Twas I did it of my own monies'; to the intent that there may happen you fair favour and good fortune." He said, "I hear and I obey"; and the Prince continued to pay him frequent visits. Such was the case with the Prince and the Wazir; but as regards Hayat al-Nufus, when she ceased to receive the Prince's letters and messages and when the old woman was absent from her, she rejoiced with joy exceeding and concluded that the young man had returned to his own country. One day, there came to her a covered tray from her father; so she uncovered it and finding within it fine fruits, he asked waiting women, "Is the season of these fruits come?" Answered they, "Yes." Thereupon she cried, "Would we might make ready to take our pleasure in the flower garden!" —

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 235

When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty seventh night

; and they answered, "Yes!" Thereupon she cried, "Would we might make ready to take our pleasure in the flower garden!" "O my lady," they replied, "you say well, and By God, we also long for the garden!" So she enquired, How shall we do, seeing that every year it is none save my nurse who takes us to walk in the garden and who points out to us the various trees and plants; and I have beaten her and forbidden her from me? Indeed, I repent me of what was done by me to her, for that, in any case, she is my nurse and has over me the right of fosterage. But there is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah, the Glorious, the Great!" When her handmaids heard this, they all sprang up; and, kissing the ground between her hands, exclaimed, "in God's name, O my lady, do you pardon her and bid her to the presence!"; and She said, "By God, I am resolved upon this; but which of you will go to her, for I have prepared her a splendid robe of honour?" Hereupon two damsels came forward, by name Bulbul and Siwád al-'Ayn, who were comely and graceful and the principals among the Princess's women, and her favourites.

And they said, "We will go to her, O King's daughter!"; and she said, "Do what seems good to you." So they went to the house of the nurse and knocked at the door and entered; and she, recognising the twain, received them with open arms and welcomed them. When they had sat awhile with her, they said to her, "O nurse, the Princess pardons you and desires to take you back into favour." She replied, "This may never be, though I drink the cup of ruin! Have you forgotten how she put me to shame before those who love me and those who hate me, when my clothes were dyed with my blood and I well near died for stress of beating, and after this they dragged me forth by the feet, like a dead dog, and cast me without the door? So By God, I will never return to her nor fill my eyes with her sight!" The two girls said, "Disappoint not our pains in coming to you nor send us away unsuccessful. "Where is your courtesy uswards? Think but who it is that comes in to visit you: can you wish for any higher of standing than we with the King's daughter?" She replied, "I take refuge with Allah: well I know that my station is less than yours;

were it not that the Princess's favour exalted me above all her women, so that, were I wroth with the greatest of them, she had died in her skin of fright." They rejoined, "All is as it was and nothing is in anywise changed. Indeed, 'tis better than before, for the Princess humbls herself to you and seeks a reconciliation without intermediary." Said the old woman, "By God, were it not for your presence and intercession with me, I had never returned to her; no, not though she had commanded to slay me!" They thanked her for this and she rose and dressing herself accompanied them to the palace. Now when the King's daughter saw her, she sprang to her feet in honour, and the old woman said, "Allah! Allah! O King's daughter, say me, whose was the fault, my or yours?" Hayat al-Nufus replied, "The fault was mine, and 'tis yours to pardon and forgive. By God, O my nurse, your rank is high with me and you have over me the right of fosterage; but you know that Allah (extolled and exalted be He!) has allotted to His creatures four things, disposition, life, daily bread and death; nor is it in man's power to avert that which is decreed. truly, I was beside myself and could not recover my senses; but, O my nurse, I repent of what deed I did."

With this, the crone's anger ceased from her and she rose and kissed the ground before the Princess, who called for a costly robe of honour and threw it over her, at which she rejoiced with exceeding joy in the presence of the Princess's slaves and women. When all ended thus happily, Hayat al-Nufus said to the old woman, "O my nurse, how go the fruits and growths of our garth?"; and she replied, "O my lady, I see excellent fruits in the town; but I will enquire of this matter and return you an answer this very day." Then she withdrew, honoured with all honour and betook herself to Ardashir, who received her with open arms and embraced her and rejoiced in her coming, for that he had expected her long and longingly. She told him all that had passed between herself and the Princess and how her mistress was minded to go down into the garden on such a day. —

When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty eighth night

He replied, "Yes, and the oldster is become my good friend: my way is his way and he would well I had need of him." Then he told her all that had happened and of the dream paintings which the Wazir had caused to be limned in the pavilion; especially of the fowler, the net and the falcon: at which she joyed with great joy and said, "in God's name, do you set your Minister midmost your heart, for this that he has done points to the keenness of his wit and he has helped you to the winning your wish. So rise directly, O my son, and go to the Hammam bath and don your daintiest dress, in which may be our success. Then fare you to the Gardener and make shift to pass the night in the garden, for though he should give the earth full of gold none may win to pass into it, whilst the King's daughter is within it. When you have entered, hide you where no eye may espy you and keep concealed till you hear me cry, 'O You whose boons are hidden, save us from that we fear!' Then come forth from yours ambush and walk among the trees and show your beauty and loveliness which put the moons to shame, to the intent that Princess Hayat al- Nufus may see you and that her heart and soul may be filled with love of you; so will you attain to your wish and your grief be gone." 'I hear and I obey," replied the young Prince and gave her a purse of a thousand dinars, which she took and went away.

Thereupon Ardashir fared straight for the bath and washed; after which he arrayed himself in the richest of robes of the apparel of the Kings of the Chosroes and girt his middle with a girdle in which were conjoined all manner precious stones and donned a turband inwoven with red gold and purfled with pearls and gems. His cheeks shone rosy red and his lips were scarlet; his eyelids like the gazelle's wantoned; like a wine struck people in his gait he swayed; beauty and loveliness garbed him, and his shape shamed the bowing of the bough. Then he put in his pocket a purse containing a thousand dinars and, repairing to the flower garden, knocked at the door. The Gardener opened to him and rejoicing with great joy salamed to him in most worshipful fashion; then, observing that his face was overcast, he asked him how he did. The King's son answered, "Know, O elder, that I am dear to my father and he never laid his hand on me till this day, when words arose between us and he abused me and smote me on the face and struck me with his staff and drave me away. Now I have no friend to turn to and I fear the perfidy of Fortune, for you know that the wrath of parents is no light thing. Why I come to you, O uncle, seeing that to my father you are known, and I desire of your favour that you suffer me abide in the garden till the end of the day, or pass the night there, till Allah grant good understanding between myself and my sire."

When the old man heard these words he was concerned anent what had occurred and said, "O my lord, do you give me leave to go to your sire and be the means of reconciliation between you and him?" Replied Ardashir, "O uncle, you must know that my father is of impatient nature, and irascible; so If you proffer him reconciliation in his heat of temper he will make you no answer; but when a day or two shall have passed, his heat will soften. Then go you in to him and thereupon he will relent." "I hear and I obey," the said,Gardener; "but, O my lord, do you come with me to my house, where you will night with my children and my family and none shall reproach this to us." Ardashir said, "O uncle, I must be alone when I am angry." The old man said, "It irks me that you should lie solitary in the garden, when I have a house." But Ardashir said, "O uncle, I have an aim in this, that the trouble of my mind may be dispelled from me and I know that in this lies the means of regaining his favour and softening his heart to me."

Rejoined the Gardener, "I will fetch you a carpet to sleep on and a coverlet wherewith to cover you;" and the Prince said, "There is no harm in that, O uncle." So the keeper rose and opened the garden to him, and brought him the carpet and coverlet, knowing not that the King's daughter was minded to visit the garth. in this way fared it with the Prince but as regards the nurse, she returned to the Princess and told her that the fruits were kindly ripe on the garden trees; whereupon she said, "O my nurse, go down with me to morrow into the garden, that we may walk about in it and take our pleasure, God willing;

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 239 and send meanwhile to the Gardener, to let him know what we purpose." So she sent to the Gardener to say, "The Princess will visit the parterre to morrow, so leave neither water carriers nor tree tenders within it, nor let one of Allah's creatures enter the garth." When word came to him, he set his water ways and channels in order and, going to Ardashir, said to him, "O my lord, the King's daughter is mistress of this garden; and I have only to crave your pardon, for the place is your place and I live only in your favours, except that my tongue is under your feet. I must tell you that the Princess Hayat al- Nufus has a mind to visit it to morrow at the first of the day and has bidden me leave none within it who might look upon her. So I would have you of your favour go forth of the garden this day, for the Queen will abide only in it till the time of mid after noon prayer and after it shall be at your service for se'nnights:and fortnights, months and years." Ardashir asked, "O elder, Perhaps we have caused you some mishap?"; and the other answered, "By God, O my lord, nothing has happened me from you but honour!" Rejoined the Prince, "If it be so, nothing but all good shall befall you through us; for I will hide in the garden and none shall espy me, till the King's daughter has gone back to her palace." Said the Gardener, "O my lord, If she espy the shadow of a man in the garden or any of Allah's male creatures she will strike off my head;"—

When it was the Seven Hundred and Twenty ninth night

the youth replied, "Have no fear, I will on no wise let any see me. But doubtless to day you lackest of spending money for your family." Then he put his hand to his purse and pulled out five hundred ducats, which he gave to him saying, "Take this gold and lay it out on your family, that your heart may be at ease concerning them."

When the Shaykh looked upon the gold, his life seemed a light thing to him and he suffered the Prince to tarry where he was, charging him straitly not to show himself in the garden. Then he left him loitering about. Meanwhile, when the eunuchs went in to the Princess at break of day, she bade open the private wicket leading from the palace to the parterres and donned a royal robe, embroidered with pearls and jewels and gems, over a shift of fine silk purfled with rubies. Under the whole was that which tongue refuses to explain, at which was confounded the brain and whose love would embrave the craven's strain. On her head she set a crown of red gold, inlaid with pearls and gems and she tripped in pattens of cloth of gold, embroidered with fresh pearls and adorned with all manner precious stones. Then she put her hand upon the old woman's shoulder and commanded to go forth by the privy door; but the nurse looked at the garden and, seeing it full of eunuchs and handmaids walking about, eating the fruits and troubling the streams and taking their ease of sport and pleasure in the water said to the Princess, "O my lady, is this a garden or a madhouse?" the Princess said, "What means your speech, O nurse?"; and the old woman said, "truly the garden is full of slave girls and eunuchs, eating of the fruits and troubling the streams and scaring the birds and hindering us from taking our ease and sporting and laughing and what not else; and you have no need of them. Were you going forth of your palace into the highway, this would be fitting, as an honour and a ward to you; but, now, O my lady, you go forth of the wicket into the garden, where none of Almighty Allah's creatures may look on you."

Rejoined the Princess, "By God, O nurse mine, you sayst truth! But how shall we do?"; and the old woman said, "Bid the eunuchs send them all away and keep only two of the slave girls, that we may make merry with them. So she dismissed them all, with the exception of two of her hand maids who were most in favour with her. But when the old woman saw that her heart was light and that the season was pleasant to her, she said to her, "Now we can enjoy ourselves aright: so up and let us take our pleasance in the garden." The Princess put her hand upon

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 241 her shoulder and went out by the private door. The two waiting women walked in front and she followed them laughing at them and swaying gracefully to and fro in her ample robes; whilst the nurse forewent her, showing her the trees and feeding her with fruits; and so they fared on from place to place, till they came to the pavilion, which when the King's daughter beheld and saw that it had been restored, she asked the old woman, "O my nurse, see you that pavilion? It has been repaired and its walls whitened." She answered, "By God, O my lady, I heard say that the keeper of the garden had taken stuffs of a company of merchants and sold them and bought bricks and lime and plaster and stones and so forth with the price; so I asked him what he had done with all this, and he said, 'I have repaired the pavilion which lay in ruins,' presently adding, 'And when the merchants sought their due of me, I said to them, 'Wait 'till the Princess visit the garden and see the repairs and they satisfy her; then will I take of her what she is pleased to bestow on me, and pay you what is your due.'

I said, 'What moved you to do this thing?'; and He said, 'I saw the pavilion in ruins, the coigns thrown down and the stucco peeled from the walls, and none had the grace to repair it; so I borrowed the coin on my own account and restored the place; and I trust in the King's daughter to deal with me as befits her dignity.' I said, 'The Princess is all goodness and generosity and will no doubt requite you.' and he did all this but in hopes of your bounty." Replied the Princess, "By God, he has dealt nobly in rebuilding it and has done the deed of generous men! Call me my purse keeperess." The old woman accordingly fetched the purse keeperess, whom the Princess bade give the Gardener two thousand dinars; whereupon the nurse sent to him, bidding him to the presence of the King's daughter. But when the messenger said to him, "Obey the Queen's order," the Gardener felt feeble and, trembling in every joint, said in himself, "Doubtless, the Princess has seen the young man, and this day will be the most unlucky of days for me." So he went home and told his wife and children what had happened and gave them his last charges and farewelled them, while they wept for and with him.

Then he presented himself before the Princess, with a face the colour of turmeric and ready to fall flat at full length. The old woman remarked his plight and hastened to forestall him, saying, "O Shaykh, kiss the earth in thanksgiving to Almighty Allah and be constant in prayer to Him for the Princess. I told her what you did in the matter of repairing the ruined pavilion, and she rejoics in this and bestows on you two thousand dinars in requital of your pains; so take them from the pursekeeperess and kiss the earth before the King's daughter and bless her and go your way." Hearing these words he took the gold and kissed the ground before Hayat al-Nufus, calling down blessings on her. Then he returned to his house, and his family rejoiced in him and blessed him who had been the prime cause of this business. —

When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirties night

She pursued, when the Care taker took the two thousand ducats from the Princess and returned to his house, all his family rejoiced in him and blessed him who had been the prime cause of this business. Thus it fared with these; but as regards the old woman, she said to the Princess, "O my lady, this is indeed become a fine place! Never saw I a purer white than its plastering nor properer than its painting! I wonder if he have also repaired it within: else has he made the outside white and left the inside black. Come, let us enter and inspect." So they went in, the nurse preceding, and found the interior painted and gilded in the goodliest way. The Princess looked right and left, till she came to the upper end of the estrade, when she fixed her eyes upon the wall and gazed long and earnestly at that; whereupon the old woman knew that her glance had lighted on the presentment of her dream and took the two waiting women away with her, that they might not divert her mind. When the King's daughter had made an end of examining the painting, she turned to the old woman, wondering and beating hand on hand, and said to her, "O my nurse, come, I see a wondrous thing which were it graven with needle gravers on the eye corners would be a warner to whoever will be warned." She replied, "And what is that, O my lady?"; when the Princess rejoined, "Go, look at the upper end of the estrade, and tell me what you see there." So she went up and considered the dream drawing: then she came down, wondering, and said, "By God, O my lady, here is depicted the garden and the fowler

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 243 and his net and the birds and all you saw in your dream, and truly, nothing but urgent need withheld the male pigeon from returning to free his mate after he had fled her, for I see him in the talons of a bird of raven which has slaughtered him and is drinking his blood and rending his flesh and eating it; and this, O my lady, caused his tarrying to return and rescue her from the net. But, O my mistress, the wonder is how your dream came to be thus depicted, for, were you minded to set it forth in painture you had not availed to portray it. By God, this is a marvel which should be recorded in histories! Surely, O my lady, the angels appointed to attend upon the sons of Adam, knew that the cock pigeon was wronged of us, because we blamed him for deserting his mate; so they embraced his cause and made manifest his excuse; and now for the first time we see him in the hawk's pounces a dead bird." the Princess said, "O my nurse, truly, Fate and Fortune had course against this bird, and we did him wrong." the nurse said, "O my mistress, foes shall meet before Allah the Most High: but, O my lady, truly, the truth has been made manifest and the male pigeon's excuse certified to us; for had the hawk not seized him and drunk his blood and rent his flesh he had not held aloof from his mate, but had returned to her, and set her free from the net; but against death there is no recourse, nor, O my lady, is there anything in the world more tenderly solicitous than the male for the female, among all creatures which Almighty Allah has created.

And especially 'tis thus with man for he starvs himself to feed his wife, stripps himself to clothe her, angers his family to please her and disobeys and denies his parents to endow her. She knows his secrets and conceals them and she cannot endure from him a single hour If he be absent from her one night, her eyes sleep not, nor is there a dearer to her than he: she loves him more than her parents and they lie down to sleep in each other's arms, with his hand under her neck and her hand under his neck, even as says the poet,

'I made my wrist her pillow and I lay with her in litter; And I said to Night 'Be long!' while the full moon showed glitter: Ah me, it was a night Allah never made its like; Whose first was sweetest sweet and whose last bitt'rest bitter!'

Then he kisses her and she kisses him; and I have heard of a certain King that, when his wife fell sick and died, he buried himself alive with her, submitting himself to death, for the love of her and the strait companionship which was between them. Moreover, a certain King sickened and died, and when they were about to bury him, his wife said to her people: Let me bury myself alive with him: else will I slay myself and my blood shall be on your heads. So, when they saw she would not be turned from this thing, they left her, and she cast herself into the grave with her dead husband, of the greatness of her love and tenderness for him." And the old woman did not stop to ply the Princess with anecdotes of conjugal love between men and women, till there ceased that which was in her heart of hatred for the sex masculine; and when she felt that she had succeeded in renewing in her the natural inclination of woman to man, she said to her, "'Tis time to go and walk in the garden." So they fared forth from the pavilion and paced among the trees. Presently, the Prince chanced to turn and his eyes fell on Hayat al-Nufus; and when he saw the symmetry of her shape and the rosiclearness of her cheeks and the blackness of her eyes and her exceeding grace and her passing loveliness and her excelling beauty and her prevailing elegance and her abounding perfection, his reason was confounded and he could not take his eyes off her. Passion annihilated his right judgment and love overpassed all limits in him; his vitals were occupied with her service and his heart was aflame with the fire of repine, so that he swooned away and fell to the ground. When he came to himself, she had passed from his sight and was hidden from him among the trees;—

When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty first night

The old woman did not stop to lead the Princess a pleasuring about the garden, till they reached the place where the Prince lay ambushed, when, behold she said, "O You whose bounties are hidden, vouchsafe us assurance from that we fear!" The King's son hearing the signal, left his lurking place and, surprised by the summons, walked among the trees, swaying to and fro with a proud and graceful gait and a shape that shamed the branches. His brow was crowned with pearly drops and his cheeks red as the afterglow, extolled be Allah the Almighty in that He has created! When the King's daughter caught sight of him, she gazed a long while on him and noticed his beauty and grace and loveliness and his eyes that wantoned like the gazelle's, and his shape that outvied the branches of the myrobalan; Why her wits were confounded and her soul captivated and her heart transfixed with the arrows of his glances. Then she said to the old woman, "O my nurse, from where came that handsome youth?"; and the nurse asked, "Where is he, O my lady?" "There he is," answered Hayat al-Nufus; "near hand, among the trees." The old woman turned right and left, as if she knew not of his presence, and cried, "And pray, who can have taught this youth the way into this garden?" Hayat al-Nufus said, "Who shall give us news of the young man? Glory be to Him who created men! But say me, do you know him, O my nurse?" the old woman said, "O my lady, he is the young merchant who wrote to you by me." The Princess (and indeed she was drowned in the sea of her desire and the fire of her passion and love longing) broke out, "O my nurse, how goodly is this youth! Indeed he is fair of favour. I think, there is not on the face of earth a goodlier than he!"

Now when the old woman was assured that the love of him had gotten possession of the Princess, she said to her, "Did I not tell you, O my lady, that he was a comely youth with a beaming favour?" Replied Hayat al-Nufus, "O my nurse, King's daughters know not the ways of the world nor the manners of those that be within it, for that they company with none, neither give they nor take they. O my nurse, how shall I do to bring about a meeting and present myself to him, and what shall I say to him and what will he say to me?" Said the old woman, "What device is left me? Indeed, we were confounded in this matter by your behaviour"; and the Princess said, "O my nurse, know you that if any ever died of passion, I shall do so, and behold, I look for nothing but death on the spot by reason of the fire of my love longing." When the old woman heard her words and saw the transport of her desire for him, she answered, "O my lady, now as for his coming to you, there is no way thereto; and indeed you are excused from going to him, because of your tender age; but rise with me and follow me. I will accost him: so will you not be put to shame, and in the twinkling of an eye affection shall ensue between you."

The King's daughter cried, "Go you before me, for the decree of Allah may not be rejected." Accordingly they went up to the place where Ardashir sat, as he were the full moon at its fullest, and the old woman said to him, "See O youth, who is present before you! 'Tis the daughter of our King of the age, Hayat al-Nufus: bethink you of her rank and appreciate the honour she does you in coming to you and rise out of respect for her and stand before her." The Prince sprang to his feet in an instant and his eyes met her eyes, whereupon they both became as they were drunken without wine. Then the love of him and desire redoubled upon the Princess and she opened her arms and he his, and they embraced; but love longing and passion overcame them and they swooned away and fell to the ground and lay a long while without sense. The old woman, fearing scandalous exposure, carried them both into the pavilion, and, sitting down at the door, said to the two waiting women, "Seize the occasion to take your pleasure in the garden, for the Princess sleeps." So they returned to their diversion. Presently, the lovers revived from their swoon and found themselves in the pavilion, at which the Prince said, "in God's name, O Princess of fair ones, is this vision or sleep illusion?" Then the twain embraced and intoxicated themselves without wine, complaining each to other of the anguish of passion; and the Prince improvised these couplets,

"Sun rises sheen from her brilliant brow, And her cheek shows the rosiest afterglow:

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 247

And when both appear to the looker on, The skyline star never for shame will show: An the leven flash from those smiling lips, Morn breaks and the rays dusk and gloom o'erthrow. And when with her graceful shape she sways, Droops leafiest Ban tree for envy low: Me her sight suffices; nothing crave I more: Lord of Men and Morn, be her guard from foe! The full moon borrows a part of her charms; The sun would rival but fails his lowe. from where could Sol aspire to that bending grace? from where should Luna see such wit and such mind gifts know? Who shall blame me for being all love to her, 'Twixt accord and discord aye doomed to woe: 'Tis she won my heart with those forms that bend What shall lover's heart from such charms defend?"

When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty second night

And they embraced and wept together, whilst she recited these couplets,

"O who shame the Moon and the sunny glow: You whose slaught'ring tyranny lays me low With the sword of a look you have shorn my heart, How escape your sword glance fatal of blow? Thus eke are yours eyebrows a bow that shot My bosom with shafts of fiercest lowe: From your cheeks' rich crop comes Paradise; How, then, shall my heart the rich crop forego? Your graceful shape is a blooming branch, And shall pluck the fruits who shall bear that bough. Of necessity you drawest me, robst my sleep; In your love I strip me and shameless show: Allah lend you the rays of most righteous light, Draw the farthest near and a tryst bestow: Then have ruth on the vitals your love has seared, And the heart that flies to your side the mo'e!"

And when she ended her recitation, passion overcame her and she was distraught for love and wept copious tears, rain like streaming down. This burnt the Prince's heart and he in turn became troubled and distracted for love of her. So he drew nearer to her and kissed her hands and wept with sore weeping and they did not stop from lover reproaches and converse and versifying, until the call to mid afternoon prayer (nor was there anything between them other than this), when they bethought them of parting and she said to him, "O light of my eyes and core of my heart, the time of severance has come between us twain: when shall we meet again?" "By God," he replied (and indeed her words shot him as with shafts), "to mention of parting I am never glad!" Then she went forth of the pavilion, and he turned and saw her sighing sighs would melt the rock and weeping shower like tears; whereupon he for love was sunken in the sea of desolation and improvised these couplets,

"O my heart's desire! grows my misery From the stress of love, and what cure for me? By your face, like dawn when it lights the dark, And your hair whose hue bears night tide's blee And your form like the branch which in grace inclines To Zephyr's breath blowing glad and free By the glance of yours eyes like the fawn's soft gaze, When she views pursuer of high degree,

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 249

And your waist down borne by the weight of hips, These so heavy and that lacking gravity, By the wine of your lip dew, the sweetest of drink, Fresh water and musk in its purity O gazelle of the tribe, ease my soul of grief, And grant me your phantom in sleep to see!"

Now when she heard his verses in praise of her, she turned back to him and embracing him, with a heart on fire for the anguish of severance, fire which nothing save kisses and embraces might quench, cried, "truth the byword says, Patience is for a lover and not the lack of it. There is no help for it but I contrive a means for our reunion." Then she farewelled him and fared forth, knowing not where she set her feet, for stress of her love; nor did she stay her steps till she found herself in her own chamber. When she was gone, passion and love longing redoubled upon the young Prince and the delight of sleep was forbidden him, and the Princess in her turn tasted not food and her patience failed and she sickened for desire. As soon as dawned the day, she sent for the nurse, who came and found her condition changed and she cried, "Question me not of my case; for all I suffer is due to your handiwork. Where is the beloved of my heart?" "O my lady, when did he leave you? Has he been absent from you more than this night?" "Can I endure absence from him an hour? Come, find some means to bring us together speedily, for my soul is like to flee my body." "O my lady, have patience till I contrive you some subtle device, whereof none shall be ware." "By the Great God, except you bring him to me this very day, I will tell the King that you have corrupted me, and he will cut off your head!" "I conjure you, By God, have patience with me, for this is a dangerous matter!"

And the nurse humbled herself to her, till she granted her three days' delay, saying, "O my nurse, the three days will be three years to me; and if the fourth day pass and you bring him not, I will go about to slay you." So the old woman left her and returned to her lodging, where she abode till the morning of the fourth day, when she summoned the tirewomen of the town and sought of them fine dyes and rouge for the painting of a virgin girl and adorning; and they brought her cosmetics of the best. Then she sent for the Prince and, opening her chest, brought out a bundle containing a suit of woman's apparel, worth five thousand dinars, and a head kerchief fringed with all manner gems. Then she said to him, "O my son, have you a mind to foregather with Hayat al-Nufus?"; and he replied, "Yes." So she took a pair of tweezers and pulled out the hairs of his face and pencilled his eyes with Kohl. Then she stripped him and painted him with Henna from his nails to his shoulders and from his insteps to his thighs and tattooed him about the body, till he was like red roses upon alabaster slabs.

After a little, she washed him and dried him and bringing out a shift and a pair of petticoat trousers made him put them on. Then she clad him in the royal suit aforesaid and, binding the kerchief about his head, veiled him and taught him how to walk, saying, "Advance your left and draw back your right." He did her bidding and forewent her, as he were a Houri faring abroad from Paradise. Then she said to him, "Fortify your heart, for you are going to the King's palace, where there will without fail be guards and eunuchs at the gate; and if you be startled at them and show doubt or dread, they will suspect you

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 251 and examine you, and we shall both get into grievous trouble and Perhaps lose our lives: where fore If you feel yourself unable to this, tell me." He answered, "In very truth this thing has no terrors for me, so be of good cheer and keep yours eyes cool and clear." Then she went out preceding him till the twain came to the palace gate, which was full of eunuchs. She turned and looked at him, as much as to say, "Are you troubled or no?" and finding him all unchanged, went on. The chief eunuch glanced at the nurse and knew her but, seeing a damsel following her, whose charms confounded the reason, he said in his mind, "As for the old woman, she is the nurse; but as for the girl who is with her there is none in our land resembls her in favour or approaches her in fairness save the Princess Hayat al-Nufus, who is secluded and never goes out. Would I knew how she came into the streets and would Heaven I know whether or no 'twas by leave of the King!" Then he rose to learn somewhat concerning her and well near thirty castratos followed him; which when the old woman saw, her reason fled for fear and she said, "truly, we are Allah's and to Him we shall return! Without recourse we are dead folk this time." —

When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty third night

When the head eunuch heard her speak thus, fear gat hold upon him, by reason of that which he knew of the Princess's violence and that her father was ruled by her, and he said to himself, "Perhaps the King has commanded the nurse to carry his daughter forth upon some occasion of hers, whereof she would have none know; and if I oppose her, she will be wroth with me and will say, 'This eunuch fellow stopped me, that he might pry into my affairs.' So she will do her best to kill me, and I have no call to meddle in this matter." So saying, he turned back, and with him the thirty assistants who drove the people from the door of the palace; whereupon the nurse entered and saluted the eunuchs with her head, whilst all the thirty stood to do her honour and returned her salam. She led in the Prince and he did not stop following her from door to door, and the Protector protected them, so that they passed all the guards, till they came to the seventh door: it was that of the great pavilion, in which was the King's throne, and it communicated with the chambers of his women and the saloons of the Harim, as well as with his daughter's pavilion.

So the old woman halted and said, "Here we are, O my son, and glory be to Him who has brought us thus far in safety! But, O my son, we cannot foregather with the Princess except by night; for night enveils the fearful." He replied, "True, but what is to be done?" She said, "Hide you in this black hole," showing him behind the door a dark and deep cistern, with a cover thereto. So he entered the cistern, and she went away and left him there till ended day, when she returned and carried him into the palace, till they came to the door of Hayat al-Nufus's apartment. The old woman knocked and a little maid came out and said, "Who is at the door?" Said the nurse, "'Tis I," whereupon the maid returned and craved permission of her lady, who said, "Open to her and let her come in with any who may accompany her." So they entered and the nurse, casting a glance around, perceived that the Princess had made ready the sitting chamber and ranged the lamps in row and lighted candles of grow in chandeliers of gold and silver and spread the divans and estrades with carpets and cushions. Moreover, she had set on trays of food and fruits and confections and she had perfumed the place with musk and aloeswood and ambergris. She was seated among the lamps and the tapers and the light of her face outshone the lustre of them all.

When she saw the old woman, she said to her, "O nurse, where is the beloved of my heart?"; and the other replied, "O my lady, I cannot find him nor have my eyes espied him; but I have brought you his own sister; and here she is." Cried the Princess, "Are you Jinn mad? What need have I of his sister? Say me, an a man's head irk him, does he bind up his hand?" The old woman answered, "No, I By God, O my lady! But look on her, and if she pleases you, let her be with you." Then she uncovered the Prince's face, whereupon Hayat al-Nufus knew him and running to him, pressed him to her bosom, and he pressed her to his breast.

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 253

Then they both fell down in a swoon and lay without sense a long while. The old woman sprinkled rosewater upon them till they came to themselves, when she kissed him on the mouth more than a thousand times and improvised these couplets,

"Sought me this heart's dear love at gloom of night I rose in honour till he sat directly, And said, 'O aim of mine, O sole desire In such night visit have of guards no fright? he replied, 'Yes, I feared much, but Love Robbed me of all my wits and reft my sprite. We clipt with kisses and awhile clung we, For here 'twas safe; nor feared we watchman people: Then rose we parting without doubtful deed And shook out skirts where none a stain could sight."

When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty fourth night

She pursued, when her lover visited Hayat al-Nufus in her palace, the twain embraced and she improvised some happy couplets beseeming the occasion. And when she had ended her extempore lines she said, "Is it indeed true that I see you in my abode and that you are my cup mate and my familiar?" Then passion grew on her and love was grievous to her, so that her reason well near fled for joy and she improvised these couplets,

"With all my soul I'll ransom him who came to me in gloom Of night whilst I had waited long to see his figure loom; And nothing aroused me save his weeping voice of tender tone And whispered I, 'Fair fall your foot and welcome and well come!' His cheek I kissed a thousand times, and yet a thousand more; Then clipt and clung about his breast enveiled in darkling room. And cried, 'Now truly I've won the aim of every wish So praise and prayers to Allah for this grace now best become.' Then slept we even as we would the goodliest of nights Till morning came to end our night and light up earth with bloom."

As soon as it was day, she made him enter a place in her apartment unknown to any and he abode there till nightfall, when she brought him out and they sat in converse and carouse. Presently, he said to her,

"I wish to return to my own country and tell my father what has passed between us, that he may equip his Wazir to demand you in marriage of your sire." She replied, "O my love, I fear, If you return to your country and kingdom, you will be distracted from me and forget the love of me; or that your father will not further your wishes in this matter and I shall die. Meseems the better counsel were that you abide with me and in my hand grasp, I looking on your face, and you on mine, till I devise some plan, by which we may escape together some night and flee to your country; for I have cut off my hopes from my own people and I despair of them." He rejoined, "I hear and obey;" and they fell again to their carousal and conversing. He tarried with her thus for some time till, one night, the wine was pleasant to them and they lay not down nor did they sleep till break of day. Now it chanced that one of the Kings sent her father a present, and amongst other things, a necklace of union jewels, nine and twenty grains, to whose price a King's treasures might not suffice. Abd al-Kadir said, "This rivière beseems none but my daughter Hayat al-Nufus;" and, turning to an eunuch, whose jaw teeth the Princess had knocked out for reasons best known to herself, he called to him and said, "Carry the necklace to your lady and say to her, 'One of the Kings has sent your father this, as a present, and its price may not be paid with money; put it on your neck.'" The slave took the necklace, saying in himself, "Allah Almighty make it the last thing she shall put on in this world, for that she deprived me of the benefit of my grindertes!"; and repairing to the Princess's apartment, found the door locked and the old woman asleep before the threshold. He shook her, and she awoke in affright and asked, "What do you want?"; to which he answered, "The King has sent me on an errand to his daughter." the nurse said, "The key is not here, go away, whilst I fetch it;" but He said, "I cannot go back to the King without having done his commandment." So she went away,

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 255 as if to fetch the key; but fear overtook her and she sought safety in flight. Then the eunuch awaited her awhile; then, finding she did not return, he feared that the King would be angry at his delay; so he rattled It the door and shook it, whereupon the bolt gave way and the leaf opened. He entered and passed on, till he came to the seventh door and walking in to the Princess's chamber found the place splendidly furnished and saw candles and flagons there. At this spectacle he marvelled and going close up to the bed, which was curtained by a hanging of silk, embroidered with a net work of jewels, drew back the curtain from before the Princess and saw her sleeping with her arms about the neck of a young man handsomer than herself; at which he magnified Allah Almighty, who had created such a youth of vile water, and said, "How goodly be this fashion for one who hats men! How came she by this fellow? I think 'twas on his account that she knocked out my back teeth!" Then he drew the curtain and made for the door; but the King's daughter awoke in affright and seeing the eunuch, whose name was Kafúr, called to him. He made her no answer: so she came down from the bed on the estrade; and catching hold of his skirt laid it on her head and kissed his feet, saying, "Veil what Allah veils!"

He said, "May Allah not veil you nor him who would veil you! You did knock out my grinders and said to me, 'Let none make mention to me anything of men and their ways!' " So saying, he disengaged him self from her grasp and running out, locked the door on them and set another eunuch to guard it. Then he went in to the King who said to him, "Have you given the necklace to Hayat al-Nufus?" The eunuch replied, "By God, you deservest altogether a better fate;" and the King asked, "What has happened? Tell me quickly;" whereto he answered, "I will not tell you, save in private and between our eyes," but the King retorted, saying, "Tell me at once and in public." Cried the eunuch, "Then grant me immunity." So the King threw him the kerchief of immunity and he said, "O King, I went into the Princess Hayat al-Nufus and found her asleep in a carpeted chamber and on her bosom was a young man. So I locked the door upon the two and came back to you." When the King heard these words he started up and taking a sword in his hand, cried out to the Rais of the eunuchs, saying, "Take your lads and go to the Princess's chamber and bring me her and him who is with her as they twain lie on the bed; but cover them both up." —

When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty fifth night

The King's daughter feared for her lover and said to him, "This is no time for resistance." So they both lay down and the eunuchs covered them up and carried the twain into the King's presence. There upon Abd al-Kadir pulled off the coverings and the Princess sprang to her feet. He looked at her and would have smitten her neck: but the Prince threw himself on the father's breast, saying, "The fault was not hers but my only: kill me before you killest her." The King made at him, to cut him down, but Hayat al-Nufus cast herself on her father and said, "Kill me not him; for he is the son of a great King, lord of all the land in its length and breadth." When the King heard this, he turned to the Chief Wazir, who was a gathering place of all that is evil, and said to him, "What sayst you of this matter, O Minister?" his Wazir said, "What I say is that all who find themselves in such case as this have need of lying, and there is nothing for it but to cut off both their heads, after torturing them with all kinds of tortures." Hereupon the King called his sworder of vengeance, who came with his lads, and said to him, "Take this gallows bird and strike off his head and after do the like with this harlot and burn their bodies, and consult me not about them a second time." So the headsman put his hand to her back, to take her; but the King cried out at him and cast at him some what he seized in hand, which had well near killed him, saying, "O dog, how durst you show ruth to those with whom I am wroth? Put your hand to her hair and drag her along by it, so that she may fall on her face."

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 257

Accordingly he haled her by her hair and the Prince in like manner to the place of blood, where he tore off a piece of his skirt and therewith bound the Prince's eyes putting the Princess last, in the hope that some one would intercede for her. Then, having made ready the Prince he swung his sharp sword three times (whilst all the troops wept and prayed Allah to send them deliverance by some intercessor), and raised his hand to cut off Ardashir's head when, behold, there arose a cloud of dust, that spread and flew till it veiled the view. Now the cause of it was that when the young Prince had delayed beyond measure, the King, his sire, had levied a mighty host and had marched with it in person to get tidings of his son. Such was his case; but as regards King Abd al-Kadir, when he saw this, he said, "O people, what is the meaning of that dust that dimms sights?" The Grand Wazir sprang up and went out to reconnoitre and found behind the cloud men like locusts, of whom no count could be made nor anything avail of aid, filling the hills and plains and valleys.

So he returned with the report to the King, who said to him, "Go down and learn for us what may be this host and the cause of its marching upon our country. Ask also of their commander and salute him for me and enquire the reason of his coming. If he came in quest of anything, we will aid him, and if he have a blood feud with one of the Kings, we will ride with him; or, if he desire a gift, we will handsel him; for this is indeed a numerous host and a power uttermost, and we fear for our land from its mischief." So the Minister went forth and walked among the tents and troopers and body guards, and did not stop faring on from the first of the day till near sundown, when he came to the warders with gilded swords in tents star studded. Passing these, he made his way through Emirs and Wazirs and Nabobs and Chamberlains, to the pavilion of the Sultan, and found him a mighty King. When the King's officers saw him, they cried out to him, saying, "Kiss ground! Kiss ground!" He did so and would have risen, but they cried out at him a second and a third time. So he kissed the earth again and again and raised his head and would have stood up, but fell down at full length for excess of awe. When at last he was set between the hands of the King he said to him, "Allah prolong your days and increase your sovranty and exalt your rank, O you auspicious King! And furthermore, of a truth,

King Abd al-Kadir saluts you and kisses the earth before you and asks on what weighty business you are come. If you seek to avenge you for blood on any King, he will take horse in your service; or, If you come in quest of anything, in which it is in his power to help you, he stands up at your service on account of it." So Ardashir's father replied to the Wazir, saying, "O messenger, return to your lord and tell him that the most mighty King Sayf al-A'azam Shah, Lord of Shiraz, had a son who has been long absent from him and news of him have not come and all traces of him have been cut off. If he be in this city, he will take him and depart from you; but, if anything have befallen him or any mischief have ensued to him from you, his father will lay waste your land and make spoil of your goods and slay your men and seize your women. Return, therefore, to your lord in haste and tell him this, before evil befall him." Answered the Minister, "I hear and I obey!" And turned to go away, when the Chamberlains cried out to him, saying, "Kiss ground! Kiss ground!" So he kissed the ground a score of times and rose not till his life breath was in his nostrils. Then he left the King's high court and returned to the city, full of anxious thought concerning the affair of this King and the multitude of his troops, and going in to King Abd al-Kadir, pale with fear and trembling in his side muscles, acquainted him with that had befallen him; —

When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty sixth near

Replied the other, " 'Tis even he whom you bade put to death, but praised be Allah who hastened not his slaughter! Else had his father wasted our lands and spoiled our good." the King said,"See now your corrupt judgment, in that you did counsel us to slay him!

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 259

Where is the young man, the son of that magnanimous King?" And the Wazir said, "O mighty King, you did command him be put to death." When the King heard this, he was clean distraught and cried out from his heart's core and in most of head, saying, "Woe to you! Fetch me the Heads man directly, lest death fall on him!" So they fetched the Sworder and he said, ", I have smitten off his head even as you bade me." Cried Abd al-Kadir "O dog, an this be true, I will assuredly send you after him." The Heads man replied, "O King, you did command me to slay him with out consulting you a second time." Said the King, "I was in my wrath; but speak the truth, before you lose your life;" and said the Sworder, "O King, he is yet in the chains of life." At this Abd al-Kadir rejoiced and his heart was set at rest; then he called for Ardashir, and when he came, he stood up to receive him and kissed his mouth, saying, "O my son, I ask pardon of Allah Almighty for the wrong I have done you, and say you not anything that may lower my credit with your sire, the Great King."

The Prince asked, ", and where is my father?" and the other answered, "He is come here on yours account." Thereupon Ardashir said, "By your worship, I will not stir from before you till I have cleared my honour and the honour of your daughter from that which you laidest to our charge; for she is a pure virgin. Send for the midwives and let them examine her before you. If they find her maidenhead gone, I give you leave to shed my blood; and if they find her a clean maid, her innocence of dishonour and my also will be made manifest." So he summoned the midwives, who examined the Princess and found her a pure virgin and so told the King, seeking largesse of him. He gave them what they sought, putting off his royal robes to bestow on them, and in like manner he was bountiful to all who were in the Harim. And they brought forth the scent cups and perfumed all the Lords of estate and Grandees; and not one but rejoiced with exceeding joy. Then the King threw his arms about Ardashir's neck and entreated him with all worship and honour, bidding his chief eunuchs bear him to the bath.

When he came out, he cast over his shoulders a costly robe and crowned him with a coronet of jewels; he also girt him with a girdle of silk, purfled with red gold and set with pearls and gems, and mounted him on one of his noblest mares, with selle and trappings of gold inlaid with pearls and jewels. Then he bade his Grandees and Captains mount on his service and escort him to his father's presence; and charged him tell his sire that King Abd al-Kadir was at his disposal, hearkening to and obeying him in whatever he should bid or forbid. "I will not fail of this," answered Ardashir and farewelling him repaired to his father who, at sight of him, was transported for delight and springing up, advanced to meet him and embraced him, whilst joy and gladness spread among all the host of the Great King. Then came the Wazirs and Chamberlains and Captains and guards and kissed the ground before the Prince and rejoiced in his coming: and it was a great day with them for enjoyment, for the King's son gave leave to those of King Abd al-Kadir's officers who had accompanied him and others of the townsfolk, to view the ordinance of his father's host, without delay, so they might know the multitude of the Great King's troops and the might of his empire. And all who had seen him selling stuffs in the linen drapers' bazar marvelled how his soul could have consented thereto, considering the nobility of his spirit and the loftiness of his dignity; but it was his love and inclination to the King's daughter that to this had constrained him. Meanwhile, news of the multitude of her lover's troops came to Hayat al-Nufus, who was still jailed by her sire's commandment, till they knew what he should order respecting her, whether pardon and release or death and burning; and she looked down from the terrace roof of the palace and, turning towards the mountains, saw even these covered with armed men.

When she beheld all those warriors and knew that they were the army of Ardashir's father, she feared lest he should be diverted from her by his sire and forget her and depart from her, whereupon her father would slay her. So she called a handmaid that was with her in her apartment by way of service, and said to her, "Go to Ardashir, son of the Great King, and fear not. When you come into his presence, kiss the ground before him and tell him what you are and say to him, 'My lady saluts you and would have you to know that she is a prisoner in her father's palace, awaiting his sentence, whether he be minded to pardon her or put her to death, and she beseeches you not to forget her or forsake her; for to day you are all powerful; and, in whatever you commandest, no man dare cross you. Why, If it seem good to you to rescue her from her sire and take her with you, it were of your bounty, for indeed she endurs all these trials for your sake. But, an this seem not good to you, for that your desire of her is at an end, still speak to your sire, so Perhaps

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 261 he may intercede for her with her father and he depart not, till he have made him set her free and taken surety from and made covenant with him, that he will not go about to put her to death nor work her anything of harm. This is her last word to you, may Allah not desolate her of you, and so The Peace!'" —

When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty seventh night

Then the handmaid returned to Hayat al-Nufus; and, kissing her hands, delivered to her the message, which when she heard, she wept for very joy and returned thanks to Almighty Allah. Such was her case; but as regards Ardashir, he was alone with his father that night and the Great King questioned him of his case, whereupon he told him all that had befallen him, first and last. Then the King said, "What will you have me do for you, O my son? If you desire Abd al-Kadir's ruin, I will lay waste his lands and spoil his hoards and dishonour his house." Replied Ardashir, "I do not desire that, O my father, for he has done nothing to me deserving of it; but I wish for union with her; Why I beseech you of your favour to make ready a present for her father (but let it be a magnificent gift!) and send it to him by your Minister, the man of just judgment." the King said, "I hear and consent;" and sending for the treasures he had laid up from time past, brought out all manner precious things and showed them to his son, who was pleased with them.

Then he called his Wazir and bade him bear the present with him to King Abd al-Kadir and demand his daughter in marriage for Ardashir, saying, "Accept the present and return him a reply." Now from the time of Ardashir's departure, King Abd al-Kadir had been troubled and did not stop to be heavy at heart, fearing the laying waste of his reign and the spoiling of his realm; when behold, the Wazir came in to him and saluting him, kissed ground before him. He rose up standing and received him with honour; but the Minister made haste to fall at his feet and kissing them cried, "Pardon,! The like of you should not rise to the like of me, for I am the least of servants' slaves. Know, O King, that Prince Ardashir has acquainted his father with some of the favours and kindnesses you have done him, Why he thanks you and sends you in company of your servant who stands before you, a present, saluting you and wishing you especial blessings and prosperities." Abd al-Kadir could not believe what he heard of the excess of his fear, till the Wazir laid the present before him, when he saw it to be such gift as no money could purchase nor could one of the Kings of the earth avail to the like of it; Why he was belittled in his own eyes and springing to his feet, praised Almighty Allah and glorified Him and thanked the Prince.

Then said the Minister to him, "O noble King, give ear to my word and know that the Great King sends to you, desiring yours alliance, and I come to you seeking and craving the hand of your daughter, the chaste dame and treasured gem Hayat al-Nufus, in wedlock for his son Ardashir, Why, if you consent to this proposal and accept of him, do you agree with me for her marriage portion." Abd al-Kadir hearing these words replied, "I hear and obey. For my part, I make no objection, and nothing can be more pleasurable to me; but the girl is of full age and reason and he affair is in her own hand. So be assured that I will refer it to her and she shall choose for herself." Then he turned to the chief eunuch and bade him go and acquaint the Princess with the event. So he repaired to the Harim and, kissing the Princess's hands, acquainted her with the Great King's offer adding, "What

Ardashir and Hayat Al-Nufus. 263 say you in answer?" "I hear and I obey," she replied. —

When it was the Seven Hundred and Thirty eighth night

She pursued, the chief eunuch of the Harim having informed the Princess how she had been demanded in marriage by the Great King and having heard her reply, "I hear and I obey," returned therewith to the King and gave him this answer, at which he rejoiced with exceeding joy and, calling for a costly robe of honour, threw it over the Wazir's shoulders. Furthermore, he ordered him ten thousand dinars and bade him carry the answer to the Great King and crave leave for him to pay him a visit. "Hearing and obeying," answered the Minister; and, returning to his master, delivered him the reply and Abd al-Kadir's message, and repeated all their talk, at which he rejoiced greatly and Ardashir was transported for delight and his breast broadened and he was a most happy man. King Sayf al-A'azam also gave King Abd al-Kadir leave to come forth to visit him; so, on the morrow, he took horse and rode to the camp of the Great King, who came to meet him and saluting him, seated him in the place of honour, and gave him welcome; and they two sat whilst Ardashir stood before them. Then arose an orator of the King Abd al-Kadir's court and pronounced an eloquent discourse, giving the Prince joy of the attainment of his desire and of his marriage with the Princess, a Queen among King's daughters.

When he sat down the Great King caused bring a chest full of pearls and gems, together with fifty thousand dinars, and said to King Abd al-Kadir, "I am my son's deputy in all that concerns this matter." So Abd al-Kadir acknowledged receipt of the marriage portion and amongst the rest, fifty thousand dinars for the nuptial festivities; after which they fetched the Kazis and the witnesses, who wrote out the contract of marriage between the Prince and Princess, and it was a notable day, in which all lovers made merry and all haters and enviers were mortified. They spread the marriage feasts and banquets and lastly Ardashir went in unto the Princess and found her a jewel which had been hidden, an union pearl unthridden and a filly that none but he had ridden, so he notified this to his sire. Then King Sayf al-A'azam asked his son, "Have you any wish you would have fulfilled before we depart?"; and he answered, "Yes, O King, know that I would glad take my wreak of the Wazir who entreated us on evil wise and the eunuch who forged a lie against us." So the King sent directly to Abd al-Kadir, demanding of him the Minister and the castrato, whereupon he despatched them both to him and he commanded to hang them over the city gate.

After this, they abode a little while and then sought of Abd al-Kadir leave for his daughter to equip her for departure. So he equipped her and mounted her in a Takhtrawán, a travelling litter of red gold, inlaid with pearls and gems and drawn by noble steeds. She carried with her all her waiting women and eunuchs, as well as the nurse, who had returned, after her flight, and resumed her office. Then King Sayf al-A'azam and his son mounted and Abd al-Kadir mounted also with all the lords of his land, to take leave of his son in law and daughter; and it was a day to be reckoned of the goodliest of days. After they had gone some distance, the Great King conjured Abd al-Kadir to turn back; so he farewelled him and his son, after he had strained him to his breast and kissed him between the eyes and thanked him for his grace and favours and commended his daughter to his care. Then he went in to the Princess and embraced her; and she kissed his hands and they wept in the standing place of parting. After this he returned to his capital and Ardashir and his company fared on, till they reached Shiraz, where they celebrated the marriage festivities anew. And they abode in all comfort and solace and joyance of life, till there came to them the Destroyer of delights and Severer of societies; the Depopulator of palaces and the Garnerer of graveyards. And men also relate the tale of